An aluminium waterfed pole costs less (R4,620 at 6 m) and weighs less; a fibreglass pole (R6,350 at 6 m) does not conduct electricity and flexes less at full extension. Working anywhere near overhead cables, fibreglass is the only responsible choice. For 9 m triple-storey reach, fibreglass is the standard (R8,000).
What the material changes
Pole material decides four things: weight in your hands hour after hour, stiffness at full stretch, electrical safety, and price. It does not change the cleaning result — the brush and the water do that.
| Property | Aluminium | Fibreglass |
|---|---|---|
| 6 m price | R4,620 | R6,350 |
| 9 m option | — | R8,000 |
| Conducts electricity | yes — keep away from cables | no |
| Flex at full reach | moderate | lower — steadier brush control |
| Care | rinse grit from clamps | rinse grit; check clamp wear |
The electrical rule
Municipal service drops, streetlight feeds and prepaid meter lines cross more residential walls than most people notice. A wet aluminium pole reaching 6 m puts a conductor in that space. Professional operators standardise on non-conductive poles for exactly this reason. If any job on your round involves overhead lines, the fibreglass premium is safety equipment, not a luxury.
Reach determines the decision more than material
Single and double storey to about 6 m: both materials work, and aluminium’s lower price and weight make it the sensible entry point. Triple storey needs 9 m, where fibreglass is what we stock — flex control at that length matters more than the weight difference. Height-to-pole matching with kit pricing is tabled in the waterfed pole equipment guide.
The part both poles depend on
Neither pole cleans anything with tap water in the hose. Spot-free drying needs sub-10 ppm purity — the reasons are in why pure water dries spot-free, and the filtration choice in RO vs DI for window cleaning.
Current stock and prices
All pole options live under waterfed pole systems: 6 m aluminium R4,620, 6 m fibreglass R6,350, 9 m fibreglass R8,000. Complete packages with filtration: 6 m waterfed pole kit R12,990 and 9 m waterfed pole kit R14,860.